Arts and gardens came together Thursday behind Baldwin High School at the Baldwin Grows area. Here, parents and school officials celebrated diversity, inclusion and good nutrition at Art in the Garden. This inaugural gathering had numerous murals by school district students, performances from the various schools and ribbon cuttings for two special features of Baldwin Grows.
Those features would be the Aquaphonics Greenhouse where live fish work to help the plants grow, and an Inclusion Garden Brick Pathway with various planted herbs and flowers.
Susan Nelson, director of school nutrition, called it a ‘pet project’ inspired by a trip to Sarasota, Florida, earlier this year and by the fact that she admires art.
“Their program is called ‘Embracing Diversity Sarasota,’” said Nelson at the May 9 Baldwin Board of Education meeting. “This is the 20th year they’ve done this. They are billboard-sized, blown-up pictures and paintings primarily children have done. There’s probably 100 of them scattered across the bay. It was mind-blowing. I texted (Superintendent Dr. Noris) Price right there that we’re doing this.”
Nelson formed a committee with curriculum specialist Erica Ingram and wellness coordinator A’keti Mayweather among others, and she said all the art teachers submitted work with the inclusion/gardening theme and the committee made selections to be displayed.
“Nelson and Mayweather are out-of-the-box thinkers,” said Dr. Price. “I always appreciate them coming up with ways we can showcase our students.”